The Official Site | Chris van der Drift

Monday, September 06, 2010

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Superleague Formula by Sonangol
Superleague Formula is the 2010 challenge, having not stepped in the car before the first round at Silverstone Chris went on to control the 750hp beast and score two podium finishes on his debut.

World Series by Renault For the 2009 season Chris signed with Epsilon Euskadi to compete with them in the World Series by Renault, on the first race weekend Chris managed to take home a 3rd place finish.

A1GP powered by Ferrari Chris managed to have the chance to represent New Zealand in the newly launched A1GP powered by Ferrari, he took part in the first ever test and then the Chinese and New Zealand rounds.

GP2 Main Series After such a dominate season in Formula Master Chris took on the end of season GP2 tests at Paul Ricard and Jerez, finishing 5th quickest at Paul Ricard from about the 40 drivers who took part.

Formula Master Three seasons with JD Motorsport and they’re Champion! This was Chris’s best year to date absolutely smashing the opposition. Prize of winning the title a test with Honda F1 FACTS & FIGURES: European Champion with 6 wins, 10 podiums, 7 pole positions and 8 fastest laps.

International Formula Master For 2007 Chris chose to stay with JD Motorsport for another season, this time in International Formula Master, it was a troubled year with many technical difficulties. FACTS & FIGURES: European Runner Up with 2 wins, 7 podiums, 1 pole position and 2 fastest laps.

GP2 The end of season GP2 tests were at Paul Ricard where Chris first got a taste of this awesome race car with Trident Racing. He was called back by Trident to compete in the GP2 Asia series, in the first weekend Chris qualified on the front row and scored more points than the two drivers from the previous year put together.

A1GP Chris took part at the official pre season test at Silverstone for the first time in Black Beauty late 2006, this was his first time in high powered race car. In 2008 team New Zealand called Chris back to be the Rookie driver at Brands Hatch, Chris finished both sessions quickest.

World Series by Renault After a strong season in Formula Renault 2.0 Chris took part in all the 6 days of the official end of season testing with RC Motorsport.

Formula Renualt 2.0 Eurocup After the first season with JD Motorsport Chris became European Rookie Champion both the Eurocup and the North European Championships as well as finishing Runner up in each Championship. FACTS & FIGURES: 6 wins, 13 podiums, 9 pole positions and 5 fastest laps.

Formula Renualt 2.0 NEC Chris made the move to Formula Renault 2.0 with JD Motorpsport for the European and North European Championships. FACTS & FIGURES: Chris qualified 2nd and won his first ever race in Formula Renault.

ADAC Formula BMW Germany After two seasons with Team Rosberg and supported again by BMW Motorsport Chris finished 4th overall. FACTS & FIGURES: 1 win, 5 podiums and 1 fastest lap, highlight was signing a management contract.

ADAC Formula BMW Germany After winning the Formula BMW Scholarship in 2003, being funded by his family Chris made the step into his first season of Formula BMW with Team Rosberg. FACTS & FIGURES: Rookie Champion with 8 podium finishes

Kartsport Chris’s karting career spanned over 9 years, clocking up a total of 12 New Zealand Championships. Chris and his father also travelled to Australia to compete in the 2001 CIK Championships and the 2002 Ford Kart Stars Series scoring 2nd place at the first event.

Kartsport Chris started racing karts after at the age of 8 when he received his first kart at Christmas, at his first ever New Zealand Championship he finished 1st =

MIS and Gullwing back van der Drift Fundraiser as F1 names enter field

MILTON KEYNES (United Kingdom), September 6, 2010 – Motorsport Insurance Services and Gullwing will co-sponsor Tuesday’s Chris van der Drift fundraiser, with more F1 names confirming entries for the Pro-Am karting event.

Motorsport stars to raise funds for van der Drift (OFFICIAL AUCTION DETAILS)

F1 title contender Mark Webber leads initiative to get Chris back on track

MILTON KEYNES (United Kingdom), 30 August 2010 – In the wake of one of the most horrific motorsport accidents in recent times, Mark Webber and the motorsport industry have united in order to fund the rehabilitation required to get Superleague Formula racer Chris van der Drift back to full fitness.

Chris van der Drift recovering and intends strong comeback

Surviving a 252 km/hour (157 miles/hour) crash and 210 G-forces

MILTON KEYNES (United Kingdom), 10 August 2010 – It could have been a deadly crash. Race driver Chris van der Drift was launched into the air at 252 km/hour at the English circuit of Brands Hatch. The 24 year old New Zealander, racing in the Superleague Formula by Sonangol, hit an overhead access bridge during his flight on Sunday August 1st, the race car bursting in flames for a short time spinning numerous times before coming to rest several hundred metres further in the middle of the race track. Everyone held their breath. There was nothing left of the car bearing the colours of the famous Greek football club, Olympiacos. It is a wonder that the Kiwi survived with just some broken bones.

Chris van der Drift injured after major accident at Brands Hatch

MILTON KEYNES, 4 August 2010 – Chris van der Drift has escaped from his horrifying crash during the second race of Superleague Formula at Brands Hatch on Sunday. The 24 year old Dutch Kiwi was in pursuit to take fifth place when he touched – at top speed – wheels with his rival. Chris’s Olympiacos car was catapulting into the air and was completely destroyed after hitting a bridge. The driver is lucky to be alive and was shortly transported to hospital in Dartford.

He underwent surgery on his ankle on Monday afternoon and still requires surgery on one of his two broken fingers. Chris also broke two ribs and suffered a cracked shoulder blade, dislocated shoulder and many more bumps and bruises.

Chris left hospital on Tuesday afternoon, but still needs surgery on one of his broken fingers. When and where this well happen is unknown.

Those who are interested can express their sympathy on Chris’s page on Facebook and become a member: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris-van-der-Drift-Fan-Page/139267522757191